TPW – Chapter 13 I Like Her Very Much

“Mama.”

Qiao An’s sudden voice popped the pink bubble surrounding the two of them. The teasing couple across the table also looked over curiously.

Startled, Qiao Lu jerked her hand back from his and brushed aside the strands of hair at her temple to cover her embarrassment.

“What is it?”

The little one pointed to the vermicelli in the mushroom soup. “I can’t get it.”

The noodles kept slipping off the spoon every time he tried to scoop them up.

Qiao Lu couldn’t help laughing and picked up her chopsticks again.

“Mama will help you.”

The little guy held his bowl with both hands and said in a soft, sweet voice, “Thank you, Mama.”

That few seconds of hand-holding had left Qiao Lu too flustered to focus on eating. Her attention drifted away from her sister and brother-in-law’s love story as her thoughts started to wander.

While eating, she kept sneaking glances at the man beside her out of the corner of her eye, only to see that Xu Haizhou remained still as a mountain, calmly eating as if he hadn’t noticed anything.

Qiao Lu secretly gritted her teeth and lightly kicked his calf under the table.

Xu Haizhou paused mid-bite, then gently kicked back.

Well, it wasn’t really a kick—more like a teasing brush, suggestive and flirtatious. It immediately made Qiao Lu’s face flush bright red.

Doing this kind of thing under her sister and brother-in-law’s noses… Why did it feel so shameless?

Just as Qiao Lu was about to kick again—

“By the way, what do your family members do?” Qiao Yan suddenly asked from across the table.

Xu Haizhou withdrew his foot and sat up straighter, answering seriously, “My father worked at a steel factory, he’s retired now. My mother was a schoolteacher, also retired. I have an older brother, a college graduate, who works at a steel plant now.”

“Not bad, not bad, that’s quite good.” A city family, both parents former workers with stable jobs, and an older brother with a university degree—such conditions would be rare even in a large city. Qiao Lu had really struck gold.

That’s what Qiao Yan thought, completely forgetting how adamantly she’d opposed this before.

“Are you a college graduate too?” Qiao Yan asked again.

“I graduated from high school,” Xu Haizhou replied.

“Well, that’s still decent. If you hadn’t come south, I’m sure you could’ve found a good job too.” She paused, then added, “Did you not pass the college entrance exam?”

Xu Haizhou paused for half a second, then nodded. “You could say that.”

“That’s a bit of a shame.” Qiao Yan sighed.

“Whether you get in or not, you still have to work. Earning money early isn’t a bad thing,” Xu Haizhou said, not seeming to feel it was a loss at all.

Qiao Yan thought for a moment, then smiled. “That’s true, but college graduates get assigned jobs. They have more room for promotion and brighter prospects. Your brother works in an office, right?”

Xu Haizhou nodded. “Yeah.”

“Exactly. That’s the kind of treatment college graduates get.” Her words were straightforward, though they could be misinterpreted. Realizing that, she quickly added, “But you’re doing well too. I used to have some bias against your line of work, but after learning more, as long as you can support a family, that’s good enough. It’s definitely better than farming in the countryside.”

It all came down to money. Qiao Yan had grown up in poverty and was deeply afraid of falling back into it. There was no way she could let her younger sister marry a poor man. If she had known from the beginning that Xu Haizhou had decent conditions, would she have opposed the match?

“How much do you make from your stall each month?” This question came from Yuan Jianghe.

At that, all eyes turned to Xu Haizhou. In an era that valued state-owned jobs, everyone was curious about his income.

“On a slow month, thirty to forty yuan. On good months, fifty or sixty is possible. It depends,” he replied.

In truth, that was a conservative estimate. After the reform and opening up, market demand had skyrocketed. During holidays, business often boomed, and making two to three hundred yuan a month wasn’t unheard of.

“You make that much?” The couple looked at each other in disbelief.

Xu Haizhou smiled faintly. “This is a large city with a big population. Its consumer power is actually quite strong. You might not fully understand if you haven’t worked in this line of business.”

Qiao Yan laughed. “That’s why you know more than us.”

Then she suddenly remembered something. “Right, what about your parents? With my sister’s situation, would they accept it?”

Xu Haizhou nodded. “I’ll write to inform them, but the final decision is mine. Besides, even if they disapprove, it doesn’t matter. I’ve already settled down here.”

One in the south, the other in the north—separated by a thousand miles. Disapproval wouldn’t change anything.

Qiao Yan and her husband exchanged glances, worry surfacing between their brows. “But what if your parents are strongly against it and come all the way here to stop you…”

“They won’t. I can guarantee that.”

Xu Haizhou hadn’t shared much about his original family with the Qiao sisters, only basic details about their jobs and income. Since his parents were still living in the north and wouldn’t influence their life much, Qiao Yan hadn’t asked for more.

“Alright, as long as you’ve thought it through.”

With the topic shifted, conversation became easier. After the meal, Qiao Lu went to wash the dishes while Qiao Yan and her husband kept chatting with Xu Haizhou. They were especially interested in his business ventures.

When Qiao Lu returned from washing the dishes, a few more people had appeared in the house—Song Yulian from next door, her eldest daughter Shen Caixia, and two middle-aged women who were on good terms with Qiao Yan. They had all gathered around Xu Haizhou like they were watching a monkey show.

“You’re from the north? No wonder you’re so tall,” Shen Caixia commented as she cracked sunflower seeds.

Xu Haizhou simply smiled in response.

Shen Caixia spat out the shell. “So you live in Sister Liu’s courtyard? I’ve been there before, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen you.”

“I’m rarely home during the day,” Xu Haizhou replied.

Qiao Lu walked in carrying the clean dishes. “An’an, help Mama open the cabinet.”

Little Qiao An, who had been sitting on the bed munching on a biscuit, scrambled down and ran over to open the cupboard for her.

“Good boy.” After she locked up the cupboard, Shen Caixia was still asking questions.

“I heard this is your first marriage. So why are you interested in Sister Qiao Lu? Doesn’t she already have a kid?” That question was dripping with malice…

Everyone instantly turned to look at Xu Haizhou.

Qiao Lu grumbled inwardly—What’s it got to do with you? Why are you even asking something like that?

Xu Haizhou’s expression softened as he gently patted Qiao An’s head.

“An’an is well-behaved and sensible. I like him very much.” As he said that, he looked at Qiao Lu. His gaze grew even gentler—he had no hesitation showing affection in front of others.

“Qiao Lu is wonderful too. I like her very much.”

His answer surprised everyone. The one flaw Qiao Lu supposedly had—her child—was something Xu Haizhou actually cherished!

Shen Caixia choked and started spitting out sunflower seed shells like a machine gun. And this was in Yuan Jianghe and Qiao Yan’s home, no less.

Qiao Lu felt utterly satisfied. Seeing Shen Caixia shut down like that was so satisfying.

Qiao Yan furrowed her brow and was just about to remind Shen Caixia not to spit shells all over the place when Xu Haizhou stood up.

“Second Sister, Second Brother-in-law, it’s getting late. I’ll head out now.”

He gave Qiao An’s hair one last gentle tousle and got ready to leave.

Qiao Yan stood up in surprise. “You’re leaving already? Not staying a little longer?”

Xu Haizhou looked at the mother and son pair and smiled as he shook his head. “No, I won’t stay. I’m heading to the countryside tomorrow, need to pack.”

He and Qiao Lu had already agreed—tomorrow, they would visit his parents in the countryside. He’d also bring the household registration book and get an introduction letter from the village secretary. With that, they could officially register their marriage.

“Alright then.” Qiao Yan had originally wanted him to stay for dinner, but seeing more and more neighbors crowding into her home was starting to get on her nerves.

“I’ll walk you out.”

Qiao Lu and Qiao An followed Qiao Yan downstairs to see Xu Haizhou off. With the main attraction gone, Shen Caixia and the others lost interest. They said goodbye to Yuan Jianghe and left too. On her way out, Shen Caixia grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, munching and spitting shells as she went. Yuan Jianghe frowned deeply, visibly irritated, and quickly grabbed a broom to sweep up the mess.

Downstairs, Qiao Yan gave Xu Haizhou some final words of advice.

“I don’t ask for much. Just one thing—rich or poor, you must treat my sister well.”

Xu Haizhou looked at Qiao Yan, then at Qiao Lu and Qiao An. His gaze was calm and warm, his expression more serious than ever before.

“Don’t worry, Second Sister. Once Qiao Lu marries me, she’s my wife—and my responsibility. I will take care of both her and Qiao An.”

“Let’s hope you mean what you say.”

Qiao Yan wasn’t someone who believed in promises. She only believed in a man’s actions—words alone didn’t mean anything.

Marriage was like crossing a river by feeling the stones underfoot; only time would tell everything.

Xu Haizhou’s household registration (hukou) was originally in his hometown in the north. Later, because he worked at a garment factory in City, his registration was moved to the factory’s collective household. After quitting, he didn’t transfer it back home—since he owned a property in Lian and was listed as the homeowner, he simply moved his registration to the Ziyuan Street subdistrict.

After all, doing business in Lian made it more convenient to keep his registration there. There was no reason to transfer it back to his hometown.

On paper, Xu Haizhou was already considered a southern resident.

Early in the morning, he went to the tenement building to pick up Qiao Lu. The two of them first went to the Ziyuan Street office to submit a marriage application—for him. Next, they had to go back to the countryside so the secretary of Qishui Village could issue Qiao Lu an introduction letter. Only then could they register their marriage.

With Qiao Lu away, Qiao Yan and her husband rushed home from work, finally ready for some long-overdue “marital harmony.” They had just stepped inside and taken off their coats when someone started banging on the door.

“BANG BANG BANG — BANG BANG BANG —”

The noise was so loud it wasn’t just knocking—it sounded like someone was trying to rip the door off. Bits of paint flaked off the wall from the impact.

Yuan Jianghe hurriedly put his coat back on, opening the door in anger. “Who the hell are you?!”

The man at the door looked familiar, but Yuan Jianghe couldn’t place him right away. That is, until Qiao Yan quickly slipped on her shoes and rushed out, exclaiming, “Wang Bin?!”

“Where’s Qiao Lu? Tell her to come out!” He was panting, clearly having run over, and his squinty eyes were raised in fury. The threatening expression on his face was a far cry from the charming one he used to wear.

Qiao Yan eyed him warily. “What do you want with my sister?”

Wang Bin narrowed his beady eyes, forcing out his words through gritted teeth. “She’s getting married?”

Qiao Yan frowned. “That has nothing to do with you, does it?”

She had no intention of being polite to this man who nearly ruined her sister’s life.

“No relation? How is it no relation?! I never agreed to break up!”

Qiao Yan snorted coldly. “Didn’t agree? Then where the hell were you the past few days? And now you say you don’t agree? Too late!”

Wang Bin was enraged and took a step forward, looking like he might hit someone. Yuan Jianghe’s face darkened and he stepped between them, shoving him back. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Yuan Jianghe might not be as tall and strong as Xu Haizhou, but at 1.75 meters, with years of authority as a department head behind him, his presence alone made even a thug like Wang Bin shrink back.

Wang Bin retreated half a step but still put on a tough face. “This has nothing to do with you! I’m here for Qiao Lu—tell her to come out!”

Qiao Yan glared at him in disgust. “She’s not here. And she won’t be here again.”

“Not here? If she’s not here, where the hell would she go?” He wasn’t dumb—he knew Qiao Lu was from the countryside. The only person she could rely on in Lian was her second sister. If she wasn’t here, where else could she be?

“She went back to the countryside,” Qiao Yan said.

“Impossible! She’s already made it into the city, why would she go back?!”

The look in Qiao Yan’s eyes grew colder. “Why not? She went back, and that’s that. I’m telling you—stay away from my sister! She’s already married!”

“You expect me to believe that? She got a marriage certificate in just a few days?!”

Wang Bin hadn’t come to find Qiao Lu earlier for a reason. He thought he was a catch—wealthy, well-connected. Qiao Lu was just a village woman. Her so-called breakup was probably just a tantrum. What woman wouldn’t come crawling back to someone like him? He figured she’d regret it soon and come begging him for forgiveness. He’d been sitting at home these past few days waiting for that exact moment.

But to his shock, he had just gotten off work and heard she was getting married!

He couldn’t sit still anymore and rushed over to confront her—only to find she wasn’t even there. Had she really run off with some other guy?

“Yeah, it all happened today. First thing in the morning, my sister went to get the marriage certificate with her man.”

Wang Bin stared at Qiao Yan in disbelief, the whites of his eyes bloodshot. “Im…possible!”

Qiao Yan sneered and slammed the door in his face. “Believe it or not, I don’t care.”

Outside, Wang Bin gave the door a vicious kick—the floor literally shook.

“Kick it again and I’ll call the police!” Yuan Jianghe’s voice rang out, full of force.

Luckily, Wang Bin was a classic bully—tough on the weak but a coward before strength. The kicking stopped. After a moment, the sound of his footsteps faded into the distance.

Inside, peace finally returned. Looking at the mess of plaster on the floor, Yuan Jianghe grew agitated. “What was Sister Liu thinking, introducing someone like that to your sister?”

Qiao Yan picked up a broom and began sweeping. “You can’t judge a book by its cover. Back then, it was his qualifications that caught our eye—he even helped arrange a job for Qiao Lu. Who knew he’d turn out to be such a reckless bastard.”

“That’s exactly what worries me about Qiao Lu. Didn’t she get together with Xu Haizhou after just a few days too?”

Qiao Yan paused for a moment, Xu Haizhou’s face flashing in her mind. Then she shook her head. “No, he’s different. Just from his looks alone, he’s nothing like Wang Bin.”

She didn’t know why, but she just felt that Xu Haizhou wasn’t the same kind of person.

“Well, who knows? You really can’t judge someone by their face.”

Great—used to be Qiao Yan doing all the worrying. Now it was her husband’s turn to play the anxious brother-in-law.